Stutter (Elastica song)
Template:Infobox song "Stutter" is the debut single by the Britpop group Elastica and was written by lead singer Justine Frischmann. It was originally released as a single in the UK in November 1993 and in the US in September 1994.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The song was later included on the band's 1995 self-titled debut album. The single, which received positive reviews from critics, charted in the US and Canada.
BackgroundEdit
"Stutter" was written by Elastica's lead singer, Justine Frischmann.<ref name="Billboard"/> The song is a little over two minutes long and contains just two verses and two choruses because Frischmann thought that any more would be unnecessary.<ref name="tradition">Bennett, Andy and Stratton, Jon. Britpop and the English Music Tradition (Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2010), pp. 60-61.</ref> The lyrics are about "the occasional problem of drunken male impotence."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
ReleaseEdit
"Stutter" was first released in November 1993 for the independent Deceptive label. It was released initially as a 7" only and sold out within one day.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Although it was a limited edition of only 1,500 pressings, the single generated enormous media exposure for the band: based solely on the strength of it, Elastica was voted Best New Band in the year's-end Readers Poll in Melody Maker.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> To avoid overexposure, the song was deliberately not worked into North American radio until later in 1995, after which it charted in both the US and Canada.<ref name="Billboard"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Canada"/>
"Stutter" was included as the 14th track on Elastica's 1995 self-titled debut album, and it was also included on the 2002 20th Century Masters collection, Best of Brit Pop.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="tradition"/>
Critical receptionEdit
The song received positive reviews from music critics.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Spin wrote that "[The single] Stutter delivers four brilliant pop songs".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In a review of the band’s self-titled album, Douglas Wolk of CMJ New Music Monthly wrote: "Elastica's best moments are all on its own, especially the astonishing single 'StutterTemplate:'".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Writing for Billboard, Larry Flick included "Stutter" in his Critic's Choice list, writing: "It may be a stretch, but this indie quartet is best described as a better-natured Hole. Both acts feature sassy fronting females, impatient melodies, and gritty guitar riffs. The energetic tone here, however, is uplifting-not brooding. Equally interesting is the flip side, 'Pussycat'."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2012, NME ranked the song at number 53 in its list of the "100 Best Tracks of the Nineties".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Chart performanceEdit
The single peaked at No. 80 in the UK in November 1993.<ref name=uk>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the US, "Stutter" stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for nine weeks, peaking at No. 67 on August 26, 1995. It also went to No. 10 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart on August 12.<ref name="Billboard"/> In Canada, the song peaked at No. 4 on the Alternative chart on August 14.<ref name="Canada"/>
Music videoEdit
The song's music video, which was directed by David Mould, was filmed in San Francisco, California and aired regularly on MTV in 1995.<ref name="tradition"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It features the band members playfully meandering from Grant Avenue in Chinatown to the Broadway stretch of strip clubs and other adult businesses.
Track listEdit
UK 7"
- "Stutter"
- "Pussycat"
US CD single<ref>"Stutter/Rockunroll - Elastica". allmusic.com. Retrieved 7 June 2011.</ref>
- "Stutter"
- "Rockunroll" (Peel Session)
- "2:1" (Evening Session)
- "Annie" (Peel Session)
ChartsEdit
Template:Single chart| Chart (1993) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart<ref name=uk/> | 80 | |
| Chart (1995) | Peak position | |
| Australian Singles Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the title's peak on the national chart.</ref> |
125 |
| Canadian Alternative Rock<ref name="Canada">"Results". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 7 June 2011.</ref> | 4 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="Billboard">[[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] "Stutter - Elastica"]. billboard.com. Retrieved 7 June 2011.</ref> | 67 |